Sommeliers Choice Awards is an international wine competition within the United States that would be judged entirely by sommeliers only. The competition will focus exclusively on the needs of on-premise establishments such as bars, restaurants, lounges, and clubs, making this competition fundamentally different from any other wine competition within the U.S.

The goal of the Sommeliers Choice Awards is simple: to provide experienced on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list. Medals will be awarded to those wines that meet very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying wines that should become additions to restaurant wine lists. Wines will be judged according to criteria such as how well they pair with food items in addition to their overall versatility.